Ultrasound assessment of fascial connectivity in the lower limb during maximal cervical flexion: technical aspects and practical application of automatic tracking
Author
dc.contributor.author
Cruz Montecinos, Carlos
Author
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Cerda Villablanca, Mauricio
Author
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Sanzana Cuche, Rodolfo
Author
dc.contributor.author
Martín Martín, Jaime
Author
dc.contributor.author
Cuesta Vargas, Antonio
Admission date
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2017-11-06T14:23:07Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2017-11-06T14:23:07Z
Publication date
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2016
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation (2016) 8:18
es_ES
Identifier
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10.1186/s13102-016-0043-z
Identifier
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https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/145471
Abstract
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Background: The fascia provides and transmits forces for connective tissues, thereby regulating human posture and movement. One way to assess the myofascial interaction is a fascia ultrasound recording. Ultrasound can follow fascial displacement either manually or automatically through two-dimensional (2D) method. One possible method is the iterated Lucas-Kanade Pyramid (LKP) algorithm, which is based on automatic pixel tracking during passive movements in 2D fascial displacement assessments. Until now, the accumulated error over time has not been considered, even though it could be crucial for detecting fascial displacement in low amplitude movements. The aim of this study was to assess displacement of the medial gastrocnemius fascia during cervical spine flexion in a kyphotic posture with the knees extended and ankles at 90 degrees.
Methods: The ultrasound transducer was placed on the extreme dominant belly of the medial gastrocnemius. Displacement was calculated from nine automatically selected tracking points. To determine cervical flexion, an established 2D marker protocol was implemented. Offline pressure sensors were used to synchronize the 2D kinematic data from cervical flexion and deep fascia displacement of the medial gastrocnemius.
Results: Fifteen participants performed the cervical flexion task. The basal tracking error was 0.0211 mm. In 66 % of the subjects, a proximal fascial tissue displacement of the fascia above the basal error (0.076 mm +/- 0.006 mm) was measured. Fascia displacement onset during cervical spine flexion was detected over 70 % of the cycle; however, only when detected for more than 80 % of the cycle was displacement considered statistically significant as compared to the first 10 % of the cycle (ANOVA, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: By using an automated tracking method, the present analyses suggest statistically significant displacement of deep fascia. Further studies are needed to corroborate and fully understand the mechanisms associated with these results.
Ultrasound assessment of fascial connectivity in the lower limb during maximal cervical flexion: technical aspects and practical application of automatic tracking